Space Shuttle Endeavour Soars on Final Ferry Flight (Photos)

Endeavour Taxis to Runway atop Shuttle Carrier Aircraft

At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, with the space shuttle Endeavour mounted atop, taxis away from the mate-demate device for its ferry flight to California. The SCA, a modified 747 jetliner, will fly Endeavour to Los Angeles where it will be placed on public display at the California Science Center. This is the final ferry flight scheduled in the Space Shuttle Program era.

Endeavour Taxis to Runway atop Shuttle Carrier Aircraft

At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a pathfinder aircraft, in the foreground, prepares to take off. The pathfinder will fly ahead of NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, with the space shuttle Endeavour mounted atop, also preparing to taxi away from the mate-demate device for its ferry flight to California. The SCA, a modified 747 jetliner, will fly Endeavour to Los Angeles where it will be placed on public display at the California Science Center. This is the final ferry flight scheduled in the Space Shuttle Program era.

Endeavour Takes Off atop Shuttle Carrier Aircraft

Space shuttle Endeavour lifts off from the Shuttle Landing Facility runway at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7:22 a.m. EDT mounted atop NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA. The SCA, a modified 747 jetliner, will fly Endeavour to Houston and then to Los Angeles where it will be placed on public display at the California Science Center. This is the final ferry flight scheduled in the Space Shuttle Program era.

Endeavour Takes Off Atop Shuttle Carrier Aircraft

Space shuttle Endeavour takes to the sky from the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida mounted atop NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA, Sept. 19, 2012.

Space Shuttle Endeavour in Sunrise Light

The space shuttle Endeavour, atop NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), is seen shortly after takeoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012 in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The SCA, a modified 747 jetliner is flying Endeavour to Los Angeles where it will be placed on public display at the California Science Center. This is the final ferry flight scheduled in the Space Shuttle Program era.

Endeavour atop SCA with Wingtip Vortices

The space shuttle Endeavour, atop NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), is seen shortly after takeoff from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012 in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The SCA, a modified 747 jetliner is flying Endeavour to Los Angeles where it will be placed on public display at the California Science Center. This is the final ferry flight scheduled in the Space Shuttle Program era.

Endeavour Flies Over Rocket Facility

Space shuttle Endeavour flies over the solid rocket booster Assembly and Refurbishment Facility in Launch Complex 39 as it departs from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on the back of NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA. This image was taken on Sept. 19, 2012.

Endeavour Lifts Off

Space shuttle Endeavour departs from the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida mounted atop NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, or SCA. This image was taken on Sept. 19, 2012.

Space Shuttle Endeavour Over Houston

Space Shuttle Endeavour is ferried by NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) over Houston, Texas on September 19, 2012, during a three-day flight to Los Angeles, where the shuttle will be put on public display at the California Science Center.

Endeavour Flies over Houston

Space Shuttle Endeavour is ferried by NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) over the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas on September 19, 2012. NASA pilots Jeff Moultrie and Bill Rieke are at the controls of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. Photo taken by NASA photographer Sheri Locke in the backseat of a NASA T-38 chase plane with NASA pilot Thomas E. Parent at the controls.